Historiography of the Family of the Late James & Elizabeth Burns

This family tree began in Chatham County, Savannah, Georgia, about A.D. 1850 with James & Elizabeth Burns Sr., who were held as slaves by their owners until after freedom on a site near the Ogeechee River. To this union four children were born, named: Alice, Martha, Kate, & James Burns, Jr.

Alice was born in Savannah, but Kate, Martha & James Jr. were born after their parents migrated to Glynn County near Brunswick, Ga.

A few years after the family moved to Camden County, Springbluff Community where they purchased land from Powell & David Scarlett into whose decent James Burns Sr. had been held a slave. On this land, they built a home and continued the rearing of their family. They grew up and as in all families, departed from their parents to make a life of their own.

Alice was married to Patrick Hardy & moved to Nassau County, Fla., O'neal Community, where to this union ten children were born, named: George, Isiah, Hattie, Willie, Amelia, Patrick Jr., Mary Maudena, James, Eva & Oscar Hardy. The only survivor of this union is Eva Hardy Mercer.

Martha was married to Johnny Massey, Camden County, Waverly, Georgia. To this union, four children were born, named: Mary Jane, Eddie, Julie & Nathan Massey. Marie Massey Bailey was adopted into the family.

Kate was married to John Collins of Half Moon Bluff, Glyn County. To this union nine children were born, named: Charlie, James, Katie, Josephine, Lizzie, Thomas, Meater, Felix, Everlena, & Nathan Collins. From this family the only survivors are nathan(Booster) Whitaker, an adopted son.

History has not revealed to whom James Jr. was married, but he was the father of a daughter Isabelle, & a son, Minerva.

Isabelle married Adam Maxwell. To this union six children were born, named: Granison Maxwell, Hanful, Annie Bell, Ebener, Maggie, and Adam Jr. The survivors are Granison & Maggie.

Ebener's Children are: Betty Jean Maxwell Fisher, and Franklin Maxwell. There are no known descendants of Minerva.